Monday, December 30, 2013

Last month Wendy lent me The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde and I've been gobbling it up all through the holidays.

I forgot how much fun plays are to read. The dialogue on the page is
everything, and you become director, set decorator, and casting agent.

Wilde's quotable quotes are memorable and I spotted them quickly in his society comedies. These are some of my favourites:

'Every woman becomes their mother. That's their tragedy. And no man becomes his. That's his tragedy.' (The Importance of Being Earnest)

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." (Lady Windemete's Fan)

"In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. The last is much the worst." (Lady Windemete's Fan)

Here is a man who was born to privilege, who was at
the absolute height of his success and much admired by fashionable society. The Importance of Being Ernest had
just been performed February 14, 1895 at the St. James Theatre. The Marquesse
of Queensbury (his lover Lord Alfred Douglas' father), publicly accused him of sodomy on
February 28. Fifteen weeks later Wilde was in prison.

Wilde retaliated on Queensbury by suing him for libel, and then the father turned the suit against Wilde, proving in court the accusations were true and further making the case that the older man had debauched innocent boys. (An interesting aside, Queensbury is the one and the same who established the boxing rules.) Wilde's reputation was ruined, and he was bankrupted. Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, only wrote once or twice when he was in prison, and never visited.

The first half of De Profundisis a long diatribe to his
lover, accounting in detail how Alfred was his Ruin, and
was written
near the end of his two year prison term. Upon release, the two lovers reunited for a short time in
Rouen, France. I can't help but wonder if Wilde picked the location just
for the name.

De Profundis accounts their dysfunctional relationship and Alfred's deplorable shallowness of character, but after detailing all his lover's sins, Oscar acknowledges Alfred loved him and then offers him total forgiveness. In the second half, Wilde talks about his spiritual journey in prison. "I want to get to the point when I shall be able to say, quite simply and without affectation, that the two great turning points of my life were when my father sent me to Oxford, and when society sent me to prison. I will not say that it is the best thing that could have happened to me... I would sooner say... I turned the good things of my life to evil, and the evil things in my life to good."

"...for the first year of my imprisonment I did nothing else, and can remember doing nothing else, but wring my hands in impotent despair and say, 'what an ending! What an appalling ending!' now I try to say to myself, and sometimes when I am not torturing myself do really and sincerely say, 'what a beginning! what a wonderful beginiing!'" Wilde envisioned then, and hoped, that his best literary works were before him. He was, unfortunately, wrong. Upon release he'd rarely find the inspiration. However, the Complete Works also included two letters he wrote
to the Daily Chronicle detailing the need for prison reform, a subject he
knew intimately firsthand. Wilde's
accounts of how children and lunatics were treated are shocking, and
his pleas on their behalf are urgent and touching. Progress has been
made in the past 114 years... we no longer "lock everyone up" together,
and provide better food, conditions and medical care. His was an early
and needed voice on the subject.

Sadly, Wilde died just three years after his release from prison. He was only 46. His reported final words? "My wallpaper and I are fighting to the death. One or the other of us has to go."

The website Foodpairing has come up with thousands of foodpairing "trees" with fascinating illustrations and contemplations on some surprising matches.

But experimentation and direct experience are always the most reliable of guides. An afternoon concentrating on one of life's most simple and basic of pleasures, eating and drinking, is what makes the Solstice tasting such a treat. Being able to try a good number of combinations in fairly quick succession helps to hone in on what you really like, and broaden your repertoire of favourites at the same time.

Eat and drink what you like. Like what you eat and drink.

Here are some notes on the food/wine pairings from this year's tasting, with recipes if available....

Blue Cheese, Candied Ginger, and Pralines with Fortified Wine
Nicolette chose not just any old blue, but Devil's Rock Blue from Thornloe, with its creaminess and salty kick. I brought the pralines and candied ginger, which paired together nicely even without wine.

The candied ginger offered a nice hot spicy bite with the ice wine but came on a bit too strong for the Tokaji.

The blue was a wonderful match with both the Tokaji and Riesling Ice. I especially liked the crunchy pralines with the creamy sharpness of the blue. Multi-layers of flavours, tastes and textures.Spicy with Riesling
Grace brought samosas, dips and veggie chips to try with an Old World Riesling, and Margaret paired salmon and rice wraps with a tangy sauce with the New World. The spicy tastes enhanced the crisp, chilled Rieslings.

Onion Tart and Bordeaux
Debra prepared onion tart for the Bordeaux. Eggs are one of those foods that are difficult to match with wine, because the creaminess of the yolk can become a bit of a shield against your taste buds... maybe the onion counteracted the effect, or maybe it was the tanin in the Bordeaux that did the trick, but this pairing definitely worked!

Mix all ingredients and marinate for 2-3 hours.
Then grill on BBQ or sauté in pan till cooked till slightly pink in the middle.
Rest till it cools down then slice thinly.

Layer

Foccacia bread

Thin layer of plain goat cheese

Thin layer of caramelized onions (Ann used red
onions caramelized for a couple of hours with some vinegar and brown sugar

One large basil leaf

Top with 2-3 thin slices of grilled pork

Pork Tenderloin, Mushrooms, and Russian River Pinot Noir
On its own, the Russian River Pinot Noir was tasty enough, but the food choice was a really memorable match and an outstanding example of how food enhances wine.

Kaarina combined recipes from several different sources. The recipe for the pork tenderloin (served with Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir) came from a Russian River Winery website. She used teriyaki sauce instead of Hoisin sauce to better blend with the mushrooms, which were adapted from Chef Jose Andres book "Tapas — A taste of Spain in America." She used a mixture of shiitake, Cremini and Portobello. and half-and-half sweet sherry and brandy.

White Mushrooms with Garlic and Parsley, as made in Logrono

6 tbsp Spanish EVOO

1 pound mushrooms

5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 sprig fresh thyme

1/4 cup manzanilla sherry

Pepper to taste

1 tbsp finely chopped parsley

Heat EVOO in karge saute pan over medium flame. Brown mushrooms, turning over three or four times until all the mushroom water has evaporated.

If the pan seems dry, add more olive oil, Add garlic and thyme, stir until garlic turns light brown about half a minute. Take care not to burn garlic.

Pour in sherry and cook about one minute until it almost evaporates. The pan should contain a nice brown sauce of reduced sherry and mushroom juices. Season with salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Equally good hot or room temperature.

Then she spread a little mayo on slices of baguette and piled on arugula, thinly sliced pork, mushrooms and a sprinkling of orange zest.

Mushrooms on Baguette with Burgundy
Pinot noir seems to blossom when paired with mushrooms. They complemented the Burgundy so well, too.

Laura said she doesn't have a recipe but shared the method: Sautee sliced mushrooms, chopped garlic and chopped fresh thyme in butter and olive oil. When liquid from mushrooms has evaporated, season with salt and pepper. Stir in soft goat cheese (chevre) until melted and creamy. Serve on toasted baguette slices. Fondue with Syrah
Caroline warmed up fondue to go with the St. Joseph. It was fun to stand up and dip the bread on the forks into the warm, cheesy goodness of the fondue pot. This pairing made me think that it is not just what we eat, but how we eat it, that adds to the experience. Pairing fun with food and good wine!

Sharp Cheese and Meatballs with Shiraz
Christina brought an old cheddar that stood up to the shiraz.
Maj-Lis paired brochettes/frikkadels (spicy meatballs).

Common elements here were strong flavours and dare I say it, "fat", both which added another dimension to the wine.

Much maligned, fat really does taste good. We're hard-wired to enjoy it. Why not indulge, at least in moderation, and use it consciously for the good of all, like a food super-power. It certainly worked magic in the next dish...

Another example of the pinot noir grape loving the taste of umami. The scallops were an absolutely brilliant match for the champagne! Not just the taste match - champagne seems to 'go' with everything. Sensory contrasts, of chilled champagne and warm scallops. The mouthfeel of the dancing bubbles and the tumble of textures with the scallops, so crispy outside and tender inside. Outstanding!

An epic afternoon! That night we would all be plunged into the Great Ice Storm of 2013, leaving most of us to more primitive cooking methods and ingredients in the coming days and nights.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

The evening of the winter solstice, already the longest night of the year, the Ice Storm hit Toronto.

The sound of tree branches cracking and falling in the ravine woke us, and through the skylights we could see unnatural flashes of light - transformers blowing up.

No power.

Checking the damage in the morning there was only one large limb down, over the chairs in the corner. But by the time we got home from work at the end of the day, the big maple in the back had lost a major branch that had fallen on the roof (no apparent damage to the house, thankfully). A few days later and it looks like the Beauty Bush may only survive with some serious pruning. Trees in the city have been devastated by the storm.

300,000 without power, and we three a small number. I was happy to be with my family. Safe and together, keeping warm. Evenings we hung out in the living room and lit candles. The gas stove was working so we could get our meals ready and boil the kettle for tea.

Two nights and three days passed without electricity or working communications. The things I missed most were hot, running water. And real coffee
from our espresso machine. And the Internet. And traffic lights.

Driving was nuts. What were supposed to be treated as 4-way stops met sporadic compliance. The busiest intersections seemed especially prone to certain people who felt waiting their turn applied to everyone else. Scenes like this made me realize how quickly things can fall apart, given the right (or wrong) people at a certain time and place.

Thankfully this emergency seems to have passed, but it is a good reminder to take precautions and have some essentials on hand.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Picture-perfect Christmas Day. Big fluffy flakes floating. Nowhere to go and nothing to do for several hours, except relax and enjoy the company of Rob and Alex.

Griskit is having a ball playing with the boxes and bags, and Rob has constructed a 'cat-a-comb' for her into which she's disappeared for several hours.

The Christmas tree didn't get decorated until Christmas Eve. We left it until Sunday to buy the tree, but the ice storm had hit and the places we usually buy our trees were shut down and without power. We found some stores open, and then the challenge was finding a tree at all! This was the best of the last three we could find, that weren't frozen popsicles. Bargain price: $10. I don't think we've ever spent so little on a tree, except for the year we cut one done from our front yard. Alex paid for this one and carried it out to the car, where we stuffed it into the trunk, ferried it home and set it in its stand so the branches could settle.

A bit smaller tree than what we would usually have, but also fuller and fatter. Only half the ornaments made it out of the boxes, but our favourites are there. The glass bell my Mom gave us the first Christmas Rob and I moved in together; the red Christmas stocking Alex stitched in 1999; the foil birds and sequined bows. Decorating the tree is such a tradition I wonder if it would feel like Christmas without the ritual?

It definitely wouldn't feel like Christmas without feasting with friends and family. Liz, Darcy and the boys came over for dinner with Rob, Alex, Penny and I and we enjoyed prime rib around the festive table, yacking into the night. Tonight, Christmas dinner at my brother Dave's. Tomorrow, Christmas dinner at Rob's sister Brenda's. Saturday in Kitchener with my Mom, sister and other brothers. I never take it for granted, but this year, the Ice Storm and a few days without power made me appreciate modern conveniences like indoor heat, running hot water and electric ovens all the more.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

More light! I need more light! The solstice is here and longer days are worth celebrating.

What a great afternoon. My book-buddies put such thought into their choices and pairings. Tasting the old world right next to the new, it did seem to confirm that new world wines are 'bigger,' fuller bodied, sweeter, and higher in alcohol content. Old world seemed subtler, and more 'food friendly,' (at least to me).

People have promised to share their recipes, so there will be more on the food pairings in a future post. For now, just the wines, recorded for future reference:

We used this balanced wine to experience how the tastes of sweet, salty and sour on the palate actually changed the way we experienced the taste of the wine. Some people were adamant that wine could change the flavour of food.

A bit of salt, a sip of wine, and the wine tastes more flavour-full. A bite of apple, a taste of wine, and the wine tastes somewhat bitter. A lick of lemon, and the wine somehow tastes ‘bigger.’ What happens when you squirt some of the lemon on the apple and sprinkle with a bit of salt? Balanced food meets balanced wine. A whole different experience.

Often fortified wines end the meal with dessert. Why not mix things up and serve them as an aperitif? This was a great start to the old world/new world theme. Both very different styles of wine and very different tastes.

Both wines are made from grapes sweetened naturally on the vine, Tokai’s fruit, touched by botrytis or ‘Noble Rot’ vs. the ice wine flavours that concentrate when frozen. Once nature works her magic, the grapes are harvested individually so the winemakers can begin their alchemy.

Similar grapes, grown in similar conditions, with vineyards situated near rivers, grown in clay soils and very cold climates.

Spatlese means ‘late harvest’ in German, so this old world vintage was a nice segway from the previous course. Also a wonderful selection, with the Wine Spectator giving it a mark of 93 and the promise it would be good until 2023. The New World chosen was one of Ontario’s own, from Cave Spring. Refreshing, citrus-y taste.

The French Bordeaux was offered as something tasty, with an accessible price point, although the Beringer Founders Estate Merlot was also nicely priced. Both bottles could be had for less than $20.

There was definitely a difference between the two. Some admitted a prejudice for New World merlot over Old before the bottles were even poured, saying they preferred the fruitier and bolder flavours. After comparison, it was agreed there was a strong distinction between the two but the ‘favourite’ was not unanimous.

This course had a French vs California theme going once again. Old or new, 2011 seemed to be a very tasty year, indeed.

It's not hard to spend a lot of money on an old world Burgundy and much more challenging to find a well-priced 'picnic' wine. The Grand Cru varietals can command hundreds of dollars. This is definitely a bargain and something I will put on my own ‘essentials’ list.

Here there was a very pronounced difference, with the New World much spicier, producing a longer lasting finish.

Saint-Joseph is in Rhone and Decanter gave this varietal a mark of 90. Absolutely delicious!

Then we compared two Australian shiraz from the same year, but different parts of the country. I expected to find more similarity between the two, all things considered, but there were variations in colour, aroma, taste and finish. Definitely brought home that different styles of wine-making yield entirely different results.

Friday, December 20, 2013

A royal decree in 1757 established this as one of the world's first appellations, pre-dating Bordeaux (Chianti was the first in 1716). There's evidence of viticulture in Hungary dating back to a vast system of cellars that were carved out of solid rock between 1400 and
1600 AD. Even earlier, a petrified grape found in the region from about the 3rd century. So Tokaji is definitely Old World.

The Tokaj terroir consists of clay on volcanic subsoil in a mountainous region, with grapes that are grown on sunny, south-facing slopes in close proximity to
the Tisza and Bodrog rivers.What gives the wine its natural sweetness, though, is Noble Rot, and the microclimate is conducive to the proliferation of Botrytis and the subsequent desiccation of the grapes.

As with the first person to have eaten a lobster, it took a brave soul
to have first made wine from grapes infected with Botrytis cinerea, the
noble rot. The fungus attacks the fruit, absorbing water and shriveling
skins, and a metamorphosis takes place as ripe, healthy grapes shrink
into a ghastly, desiccated mass.

But a nectar so sweet it is referred to in the national anthem of Hungary.

To try a good Tokaji aszu (pronounced TOKE-eye-ee AHS-oo) for the first
time is a revelation. The color of a wine of recent vintage, say six or
seven years old, is already a shocking orange bordering on red, and it
can be rich, thick and lavishly sweet, with the flavors of dried
apricots and oranges. Yet a high acidity keeps the wine in a thrilling
balance, teetering between cloying and syrupy on one side and overly
harsh on the other. Though far sweeter than a Sauternes, a Tokaji aszu
will generally be more refreshing because of the higher acidity. New York Times

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The snow is so pretty. Spent Saturday watching the fluffy flakes falling and enjoying the view, appreciating being warm and comfy inside the house. Snapped these on Sunday while everything was still fresh and white. Buddha looked like he was balancing a big snowball on his head, or trying on a huge fur hat to keep himself warm.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

My theme this year is Old World/New World, and guests will be bringing sparkling, riesling, merlot, pinot/burgundy, shiraz/syrah and fortified wine. We will pour a glass of the new and a glass of the old, and have a chance to sample the two styles of wine making side by side.

When I first chose the wine
list, I thought it would be fun to do an old world chianti and new world
sangiovese. Maureen came back with the news that trying to buy a new
world sangiovese in Ontario is like insisting on buying a banana grown in North
America. Possible, but not likely to produce good results. Argentina
grows a good sangiovese and there are pockets in California, but yields
are so small they are generally not available in our LCBO. So chianti is off the list.

I'm debating whether to mix things up a bit and serve something made in the style of the 'New World,' but from the Old.

Maybe a Super Tuscan?

The term is a bit scoffed at on some of the sites I'm googling. I guess the category was over-marketed a bit, or perhaps some of the more traditional producers saw it as a passing fad. Imagine, mixing French grapes with Italian!

Cabernet – Merlot – Sangiovese is the
composition of many of the 'Super Tuscan' wines of central Italy. The one I chose for the tasting is Rocca di Frassinello. The consultant I was speaking to suggested it, partly because it was in my price range. Doing due diligence at home, though, I see mine was bottled in 2009, with the release date November 26. It will be 'just' ready, with the recommendation to drink between 2014 -2021. I think I'll wait a couple of years for this one to mellow.

Interestingly, 2009 was the first year we went to the Mediterranean, and we almost didn't make it because of a volcanic eruption... which also made it a fantastic year for old world wines. When we were in Tuscany in 2011 we went to a tasting and enjoyed the
chianti, brunello, and Super Tuscan right at the vineyard. Loved them
all!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

A night of Christmas caroling at BPYC, and it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

It was a great turn-out for a Friday night, the room filled with BPYC-ers. An added bonus - we've ditched the old wine labels and replaced them with some of Kaarina's choosing. I think my favourite was the McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, a great buy.

The potluck was very convivial. I think the most stunning dish of the night was Wendy's brandy-soaked raisins, which she flamed as she brought them around for tasting. The warm fruit was delicious. Snap Dragon, she called it, because of the accompanying sound.

I had a front row seat to enjoy Grace on violin, Ross on Bass, and Ross W on kazoo/guitar/vocals. Dick joined in on guitar for a tune or two, too. Bob J was sitting at our table and filled the room with his baritone.

It's fun to sing the old standards, and I don't really get much chance to sing in public & in company these days. There is something about singing with other people that feels just great. O what fun to fill your lungs for a G-L-O-R-I-A or a bit of fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-LAAAA.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Since we've enlarged the walk-out to the backyard, we've been spending more time in the living room. As much as I appreciate the antique couch, it has a limited seating depth which makes it more of a perch than a comfortable seat for most people. After a bit of a search, we settled on a sofa that was a bit bigger, but still kept the curves I love.

The fabric will be a mossy green.

While we wait for delivery, we're trying to decide what colour to paint the living/dining room. The bright green has been on the walls for more than 15 years. Time for a refresh!

Since we only repaint every couple of decades, we're taking our time picking out something new, and actually took home a couple of small jars of paint and did a few large test strips so we could check things out under different light conditions. What seemed a negligible difference on the paint chip in the store became much more pronounced when we were able to judge with a larger panel.

It's hard not to be influenced by the marketing names, like Florentine Plaster or Manchester Tan, which sound so appealing. Shaker Beige sounded boring and dreadful, but looked very classic. So far, Harmony is the colour of choice, with nice warm undertones that beautifully complement the rug. The final test will be matching it with the new upholstery fabrics.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Sadhana finished more than a week ago and I've returned to my regular solitary practice in the mornings. I feel a bit lost left to my own devices.

Sadhana = "accomplishing", spiritual discipline

Twenty minutes meditation/pranayama and twenty minutes of poses now leave me feeling a bit like a slacker. Wonder what the sanskrit word for that would be? Google result: A slacker way of saying...

“Nah, I'm gonna stay” = Namaste Very funny.

Every morning we would read from Light on the Yoga Sutras. A translation of course, but peppered with sanskrit, and then BKS' elaboration on the meaning of Patanjali's sutras. My mind would often drift in easy distraction.

The original recorded text is composed of 196 aphorisms that have been translated and interpreted exponentially. Potent stuff.

Sometimes I think it would be easier, alone in a cave, or cloistered away, to reach a state of enlightenment. No one to test your patience and no need to chase a dollar. From my solitary 40 minutes in the morning, I understand of course, that's not true, you just enter the realms of 'man against himself' or 'man against nature'. Samsara = the finite world of change, as opposed to the ultimate Reality (brahman or nirvana)

Akasha = "ether/space", the first of the five material elements
of which the physical universe is composed; also used to designate
"inner" space, that is, the space of consciousnessMaya = sanskrit for 'the great illusion'Neti-neti = ("not thus, not thus"), an Upanishadic expression meant
to convey that the ultimate Reality is neither this nor that, that is,
is beyond all description

It seems most sanskrit words end in soft and open vowels,
sing-song in cadence, the sounds we make in wonderment, pain, confusion
"ahh" "oh" "ee" "au"

.... coupled with the sound of pleasure, satiety, ponderment... "mmmmmm"

Saturday, December 7, 2013

The book that has sold 6 million copies worldwide has also inspired a movie that will be released in Sweden December 25th. The film's trailer is hilarious, half in Swedish, with English and German tossed into the mix. The author, Jonas Jonasson, has a taste for the absurd.

Characters in the 100 Year Old Man include the centurian, an over-educated hotdog vendor turned chauffeur, a
murderous elephant,
Einstein's siblings and third world dictators. Mix with ludicrous plot details like bootlegging liquor in a prison camp, and drinking presidents and dictators under the table.

Allan Karlsson is the 100 year-old man who has wreaked havoc around the
globe his entire life. The story pops back and forth between his present
day escapades and past adventures. Allan is apolitical and actually a
bit amoral, so along with suspending disbelief readers are asked to take life and historical events a bit less seriously.

This was Debra's pick for the BB's club this December and she was the only one in the group that didn't really enjoy the book, not liking either the story or the way it was told. My 'other' book club discussed the novel last March, where it was much-loved for its whimsy and light-hearted humour.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

'The Art of' is a series of conferences that bring thought leaders to Toronto to present their ideas (and their latest books) to an interested community. Attendance has grown from hundred to thousands. The last event attracted 3000 people who gathered to listen to Colin Powell and Chris Hadfield, in a line-up that also included the author of Freakoknomics, and professors from Harvard and Wharton Business Schools.

This was a work-related event, and I heard a lot that day that widened my perspective, not just on the art of leadership, but the art of living.

Colin Powell surprised me with his egalitarian views on healthcare and access to education. I'm sorry to say I had pegged him entirely to the right of the political spectrum and figured he'd been born into a life of privilege. In fact, he grew up in Harlem and worked his way up through the ranks to the top jobs of Chief of Staff and Secretary of State. An excellent speaker, he had the talent of making his talk to 3,000 people feel as though he were addressing a much smaller room. One of the things he spoke about was the stark contrast of being Secretary of State one day, and the next returning to life as a civilian. His latest book, It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership, has been dubbed a trove of wisdom for anyone wanting to turn their dreams into reality.

Colin
Powell didn't grow up wanting to become Chief of Staff of the United States of America, but Chris Hadfield wanted to be an astronaut from the age of nine, when he watched the Apollo blast off into outer space. For me, despite seeing countless images of astronauts, space travel was the stuff of movies and fiction. But it became very real, hearing Chris Hadfield's accounts of take-off and re-entry. He brought along photographs and video clips and his personal accounts were riveting. Years of focus and dedication went into becoming an astronaut and again preparing for the flight into space. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth is definitely on my reading list!

Both Powell and Hadfield successfully pursued dreams that seemed larger than life and now, what comes next? Life on the speaking circuit, wielding their influence and inspiring those of us with more ordinary lives. Although I never set my sights on being a four star general or celebrity astronaut, I'm certainly interested in what these men have to say about Living.

I wonder if they were Givers or Takers? Wharton Business Professor Adam Grant talked about Give and Take and shared some fascinating information about who gets ahead in the business world. Sadly, many 'givers' don't manage to get ahead, but there are others who end up out-performing everyone. Grant's research analyzes why. Of all the books, this is the one currently on my bedside table. How to best create a work culture that promotes collaboration and support?

Amy Edmondson talked about Teaming in an environment that is constantly shifting. Her years as a Harvard Professor have also been spent studying successful project-based teams. Her advice for teamwork on the fly: speak up; listen intensely; integrate different facts and points of view; experiment iteratively; and reflect on your ideas and actions. Not surprisingly, the Harvard Business Review lists her as one of the Top 50 Management Gurus today. These clips on You Tube elaborate on some key points.

Another Management Guru, Stephen Dubner, first made the bestseller list with Freakonomics. During his presentation he shared an interesting case study about someone who approached a hot-dog eating contest to more than double the world record. Dubner also cautioned about government incentives, talking about how one government's cash bounty on rat carcasses to reduce an infestation backfired, and instead resulted in a booming underground industry of rat farming. True tales - stranger than fiction.

Lots to ponder and reflect, and lots more books now on my reading list!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Temperatures are dropping, and a thin crust of ice is forming over the top of the pond. The goldfish were swimming back and forth, as though seeking the direct light of the sun and then returning to warmer shelter. Glints of orange, like fire under the ice.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Over the last few months I've been thinking about what's next for me at work, and having some conversations with Senior Executives along the way. I work in a great organization where people are generous enough to share their insights and lend support.

Some were frank and shared info about their own journeys. It was comforting to know that several, even the most successful, didn't have a plan when they started their careers.

Advice that lingers, whether applied to my current position or the 'next'...

Don't panic! Focus on what you are passionate about and what you enjoy...

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Be authentic. Don't try to be someone else.

Let people know you are looking, and what you are looking for.

Look for where you are able to add value.

Use your network. And remember your network has a network.

It can take up to two years to make a move... and the more senior you are in an organization, often the longer it will take.

Are you willing to make a lateral move? Are you willing to take a step 'down' to gain exposure or get your foot in the door? Moving up isn't always the only direction.

I went on many job interviews before I landed this latest, and prefer this one... so not being successful (in a competition) isn't necessarily a bad thing. It takes time to find the right position.

Who you work for is almost as important as what you do. Maybe even more important.

Try to focus on a specific area/stream and if you are serious about pursuing it, identify gaps in your skill set and address them.

Be strategic about references, let people know what you are applying for and what you need to highlight.

Don't be afraid to make cold calls, even if a position isn't advertised.

Ask and be open to feedback, but remember you don't necessarily need to agree.

Sat with Penny and Alex after the meal and went through baby photos. There was a shot of Rob at 13, which we compared to a shot of Alex at the same age. What a difference between generations. Rob at 13 looked more like a young businessman, buttoned down for his school photo with hair cut short. Alex at that age with his skater-boy long locks, arms akimbo.

We don't pull the old photos out often enough, that's for sure! So many wonderful memories. I can't believe we didn't snap a few photos for the digital age. Too busy celebrating, I guess.

The menu for the BPYC book club was so great, I asked Kaarina for the recipes. Her theme was 'English Food'. While it is true Britain's national dish is now officially 'curry', we had more traditional and lighter fare. I've never had an Eton Mess before (pictured above). Kaarina served hers in a beautiful glass ice bucket that made the dessert look especially festive.

Copied and pasted Kaarina's response verbatim for future reference.

Thanks K!

.....

For the salmon:

I
won't bother with the poaching business again. Lot simpler to bake it.
Brush filets with EVOO, S&P and bake (skin down so you can leave the
skin in the pan) at 400 for about 15 minutes. Make sure it's still a
bit pink inside because it will continue to cook off heat. Cut into
serving pieces and pour on parsley sauce. Garnish with parsley. Serve
extra sauce in a gravy bowl.

The following Parsley Sauce
recipe is the one I used. Be patient whisking it — it takes a while to
thicken. But it does. Do not add more flour. (I didn't use mace or cream
because I didn't have any.)

I
tossed one bunch of watercress with two cucumbers and half cup chopped
parsley. Cut the cukes in half lengthwise, take out the seeds with a
teaspoon and slice into half moons. Dressing: Olive oil, white wine
vinegar, bit of honey, Dijon, S&P, one peeled and slightly smashed
whole garlic clove. Remove garlic before dressing salad.

Eton Mess

There's
tons of recipes on the Brit food sites. The TorSun one is the closest
to what I did because I think less is more with fresh raspberries or
whipped cream. I did not use a raspberry liquor but I did add a titch of
vanilla to the cream. Quick dessert if you get store-bought meringues;
however, you only need sugar and egg whites so they're cheap and easy to
make a few days ahead.

Take
a look at this one, too — with 0% Greek yogurt, it's practically guilt
free if you don't count sugar! This is may be the recipe I followed for
the meringues, tho who knows. I looked at so many of them.

Alex
Farms — Ask for Farmhouse Stilton. Apparently, there's a big demand for
it for Christmas, so stock up soon. (About $29 a pound.) Give it more
than 3 HOURS before serving. What we had was not running off the plate
yet. Of course, the club house is cooler than most kitchens.

It's made from raw milk, there's only one dairy that still makes it, called Stichelton Dairy. Stiltons come from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire counties.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Life After Life was one of the most fascinating and well written books I've read this past year, but it was also one of the least satisfying and most frustrating. Kate Atkinson manipulates time and theories of reincarnation to tell an interesting story - one where Ursula, our heroine, is born and reborn repeatedly into the same time and family.

Each birth eventually ends in death, and as "darkness falls," Ursula will be reborn to repeat events and the opportunity to make different choices. Sometimes it is a big choice that turns her fate, like the choice of a lover or husband. Sometimes it is something deceivingly small, like the decision to buy a yellow dress, enjoy a first kiss, or drop a purse in the street.

The book also abounds with evidence of the power of the individual to influence and change the lives of those around them. Just by being at the side of her childhood friend at the right place and time averts a tragedy that would have rippled at least two families' lives for decades. Life is so random. Or is it?

Technically outstanding it still demanded a huge suspension of belief with the premise. Philosophical references to Nietzche and Buddhism add an extra layer to the speculation, if not the credibility, of the storyline.

On one level I saw it as a writer having fun with the fates and destinies of her characters. But it was definitely thought provoking. Is all this birth and suffering meaningless and pointless? How do we
break the endless cycle? Should we simply embrace our fates without
judgement? Are fate and destiny altered by choice?

Many of the incarnations were dark and depressing - rapes, suicides, domestic violence, murder. Yes, those things do happen but many of us are fortunate to live relatively uneventful lives. Ursula, for whatever reason, seems impossibly cursed.

This was Kaarina's choice for the BPYC Book Club, inspired by a summer get together, when Niki spoke about the book and piqued our curiosity. Of the 7 of us there last night, 2 didn't like it, 2 loved it, the rest of the reviews were mixed in the sense that the readers liked the book almost as much as they didn't like it. A couple people confessed to not finishing it, although I'm not sure whether 'finishing' actually mattered, because the end is the familiar rebirth, and so it seems to go on an unending cycle.

Kaarina also treated us with an outstanding English meal with French and German accents to reference the geographic settings in the novel: poached salmon, cucumber and cress sandwiches, watercress salad and with different wines to taste (French Beaujolais, German Reisling). A decadently creamy trifle and an extraordinary Farmer's Blue Cheese with Port.

All this, with an amazing full moon rising over the clubhouse, made for a really amazing night!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Day 20 into this 30-day sadhana.
Frustrated with my progress in some of the poses, struggling with struggle, wondering at times whether indifference or acceptance is the better approach.

Observing the more frustrated I become with a pose the more elusive it
becomes. Realizing that sometimes when I am content with a pose, I've
somehow stopped doing it. Seeking the repose in a pose.

Noticing ... that just hearing the name of some of the poses causes a reaction before even taking their form... that I am entering the poses I like with a relaxed and welcoming state vs. the poses I don't with a hardening or resistance.

Wondering... although the names of the asana are a great shorthand, could a class be taught without labeling the poses, what that might bring about? Could it be done? Would the experience be more in the moment? At what point would I realize I was in or entering into a pose and then name it? How do I get out of my head?

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Working the Dead Beat - 50 Lives that Changed Canada was Virginia's pick for November, and a good one! It was a collection of 50 of Sandra Martin's obit columns - not nearly as depressing as it sounds.

Summing up a whole life in a few pages is an art, but it also distilled recent history,
because the obits focused on people who had died between 2000 and 2010.
There were Prime Ministers alongside actors, entrepreneurs like Ed
Mirvish beside early feminists like Doris Anderson.

I read it totally out of sequence, of course, and found myself drawn more to certain sections than others. Rogues, Rascals and Romantics made for interesting reading. Also included: Icons, Builders, Private Lives Public Impact.

One of my favourite quotes in the book, "His life was his art. Alas, it was not a masterpiece," said of Scott Symons, an author I've never read (or aspire to read). But it's a great quote.

Definitely worth picking up but I'm not likely to finish reading it cover-to-cover.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Glenn Frey turned 65 the night we watched him in concert November 6. Until I read the Sun review, I never connected their sound to a genre, but now the label sticks: So-Cal country rock.

Over the years, I pumped plenty of quarters into jukeboxes to hear their harmonies and lyrics.

When we watched the documentary, "History of the Eagles," I was struck by how many of their tunes I'd loved while growing up: Desperado, Take it To the Limit, Witchy Woman, New Kid in Town, One of These Nights, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Tequila Sunrise... and of course, Hotel California.

The concert started very simply, with Glenn Frey and Don Hedley sitting on amps on stage, and reminiscing, playing 'Whatever Happened to Saturday Night.' One of their earliest, and one of few songs each band member had a hand in writing. A very nostalgic sounding song, and a bit surprising coming from a group that hadn't yet hit their thirties.

One by one, the Eagles took the stage and continued to entertain for the rest of the night. Joe Walsh growled away later in the first set and totally rocked the second. By the end of the concert, when they hadn't yet played their signature song, we knew we were in for an encore. It was generous: Hotel California, Take It Easy, Rocky Mountain Way and Desperado were a perfect way to end the evening.

WIPE pan clean and heat over medium-high. Pat 4 skinless salmon fillets dry and sprinkle 1/4 tsp salt over both sides. Season with fresh pepper. Add 1 tbsp olive oil
to pan. (The pan should be hot enough that a drop of water sizzles.)
Add salmon fillets and cook 1 to 2 min. Reduce heat to medium and
continue cooking for 2 to 4 min. Flip fillets and cook for 30 sec more
or until cooked through. Serve over brussels sprouts and garnish with
pine nuts.

With the boats out of the water, early darkness and chilly nights, the time seemed right for a comfort food menu.

When I picked the theme, I knew mashed potato would be part of the menu, but I didn't decide on the main until just the day before: Beef Burgundy, when I was flipping through The New Best Recipe.

"Does it Have to be Burgundy?" The Cook's Illustrated verdict was that Pinot Noir was just as good, and saving a splash for the braise just before serving would make it even better. Very true. Adding brandy to the pearl onions and mushroom garnish was also a nice touch.

To prep the meal I made a herb bouquet with cheesecloth, something I've always meant to try but never seemed to get around to doing. So easy! And it definitely added a great flavour dimension to the braise. Three hours slow cooking in the oven made the house smell wonderful.

Appetizer course was Caroline's Mac and Cheese, another Cook's Illustrated recipe. It was so delicious I just had to double check it was the same recipe. My cookbook was published in 2004 and wouldn't you know it, the version's
evolved since then, with recommendations to start the dish with
undercooked macaroni before baking. Yummy.

Salad course was served after the main, a dish of fresh spinach greens, caramelized butternut squash and toasted walnuts, all drizzled with maple syrup.

When Maureen went hunting for the right match at the LCBO they called one of their experts to assist. She said she was looking for a Burgundy, and the helper responded by saying they didn't carry many wines from England. What?!! Usually LCBO staff are quite knowledgeable about their wines, if not their geography.

Tasting Notes

I cooked with a Pinot Noir from Ontario called Coyote Run, pleasant but no real competition for the French burgundies served with the meal.

Chateuneuf du Pape, with its big fruit flavours, always a treat.

Bordeaux was a match too.

Rodney Strong Pinot Noir from the Russian River
Valley in Sonoma County was outstanding... made me want to visit the region.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

"Work in a way that doesn't 'bruise' the vyana vayu," was a phrase Marlene shared at the beginning of the class, having heard it from Iyengar as he taught advanced students in Pune, India.

Vyana vayu, or “omnipresent air" ... is not associated with any one area of the body,
but rather the entire body, and even extends outward into the area
surrounding the body, also known as the aura.

How I understood it this morning opened a door to effortless effort for me. Concentrating only on one part of a pose is a necessary beginning and way to focus attention, but doing only this, can cause you to lose the opportunity to have the body working in whole. Focus on something, yes, but know that one part doesn't work in isolation from another.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Frost in the morning was a reminder to tend the autumn garden and do some raking, weeding, planting and emptying containers for the coming winter.

Surprised and delighted that the nasturtium are hanging in this late in the season, but the petals are definitely drooping. Toad lily is still looking perky. A late pink rose looks a bit incongruous against the autumn-gold hydrangea.

In between planting the front and back gardens, I left the box of bulbs on the back steps and came inside for a late lunch. While I was looking out the rear window, I saw a squirrel run by with a bulb in its fat cheeks, taking the opportunity to grab its own quick snack.

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